Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I've waited nearly a year to review this product so that I could better speak to it's durability over time. I have to say, I was a bit wary of buying this because of some of the negative reviews, but I'm so glad I did!
I live in New York City and have never had a dishwasher. My kitchen sink was always chock full of last nights dinner plates, utensils, pans, etc. I absolutely hate to hand wash dishes. Every time I'd visit a friend who had a dishwasher, I'd salivate just thinking how great it would be to have one of my own. So, I put the Danby 496W on my wish list last year and received it in mid-December. To date, I've had NO problems whatsoever. It runs like a dream, hasn't leaked, and cleans amazingly well. I was so psyched to use my new dishwasher that I literally washed every single thing I owned the first day I had it. Does this sound extreme, well, if you're someone who'd rather insert bamboo spikes under your fingernails than hand wash dishes, than you understand my elation.
I do think you have to be careful when you use it so that you don't have some of the problems others have had:
TIPS
1. Clean out the food screen each time your run the dishwasher.
2. Run the hot water first to get it really hot before connecting the dishwasher.
3. As soon as your cycle is done, crack the door open so dishes can dry quickly. This will also help save your window's seal and it will be less likely to leak!
4. Clean out the dishwasher once per month. I pour two cups of white vinegar into the bottom of my empty dishwasher (make sure to do this after water has filled the machine, just before the cycle starts) and then run it through the longest cycle. It will help dissolve any buildup and will keep your dishwasher running well.
5. Be careful how you load the dishwasher. As another reviewer said, if you have a dishes or utensils in certain places, they will hang down too low and the spinner arm will hit them and not work properly. This isn't that complicated, you figure out how to best load it by trial and error. It's amazing how much you can cram in this and still get a sparkling clean load! For example, I've put six 10.5 inch dinner plates, 4 salad plates, 3 bowls, 4 mugs, two 10-inch knives, two wooden spoons.
6. Let's be honest, the 'cup' rack/shelf on the upper left side of the dishwasher is useless for cups. I've found it very useful for washing small bowls (i.e. cereal bowls). This frees up more room for mugs in the bottom rack.
7. Once you've got your dishwasher fully loaded, slide utensils like long chef's knives, wooden spoons, etc. in between your other dishes so that they are lying on their sides. Just make sure that they aren't hanging down too low!
8. I find that powdered detergent works better than gel detergent. I have no idea why, but I really thing it cleans better. Make sure to use detergent that contains enzymes as they help dissolve leftover food from your plates and utensils.
UPDATE!
Just wanted to circle back to let everyone know that my Danby is STILL going strong after two years. I've had zero problems with it and continue to love it!
YEAR THREE UPDATE - December 2009
Today was the THIRD anniversary of my beloved Danby dishwasher. Still running perfectly. I will try and post a video showing how it runs and how much you can fit in it. Glad people are finding the tips helpful!
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Danby Countertop Dishwasher - DDW496WThe 23 Portable Countertop Dishwasher by Danby is ideal for those who live in smaller apartments in cities or with roommates. It fits in the tightest of quarters, yet holds up to 4 place settings so you still have plenty of room to fit all of your dinner dishes. This unit also offers a sani-wash cycle option, which reaches up to 158 degrees, ensuring that all bacteria and germs are eliminated for your health and safety purposes. The Danby Portable Dishwasher is also hassle-free to install because it connects easily to any tap! Lastly, if you are environmentally conscious, this is the perfect purchase for you because water consumption is especially low, with each cycle using only 2.3 gallons during a normal wash.
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